Read the red badge on an icon
What the little red number means, and how to make it go away.
The red circle on an app icon is a count of things inside it you have not opened yet. Red here means nothing is wrong.
Open them and the number falls. Leave them and it climbs.
Key points
- The red circle counts things you have not opened yet
- Reading them, or marking them read, clears it
What to remember
- Clearing the count never removes anything.
- A red badge counts. It never warns.
Try this
Find an app on your own screen wearing a red number. Open it once and watch the number change.
Practice: Read the red badge on an icon. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.